The lens features a removable Digital Drive unit to accommodate either broadcast or cinema-style production.
“The use of large-sensor 4K cameras is rapidly spreading beyond motion pictures and episodic television, into many new types of productions such as broadcast sports and nature documentaries,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A. “We are proud to deliver a lens with the advanced 4K optical performance, impressive focal range and operational versatility required to serve the creative needs of today’s growing community of 4K and Ultra-HD image makers.”
Available in either EF- or PL-mount, the CINE-SERVO lens balances 4K optical performance and image brightness with a compact form factor of 15.9 inches in length (PL version) and a weight of 14.6 pounds. This combination provides outstanding aberration correction and high image quality extending from the center of the image to all edges. For professional users, this lens enables close-up 4K imaging of wildlife subjects or athletes while maintaining the physical distances necessary in such shooting situations.
It features a removable Digital Drive unit for traditional EFP-style (electronic field production) operation with a convenient zoom/rocker switch, programmable zoom and focus settings, and data connections for use with broadcast-type field/studio servo-demand controls for zoom and focus. Removal of the drive unit enables Cinema-style operation of the CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm lens, including clearly engraved barrel markings, an 11-blade iris to help achieve smooth “bokeh,” and compatibility with lens-support rods, matte boxes, and other cinema accessories.
The lens is compliant with industry-standard camera-to-lens communication protocols to help ensure compatibility with multiple brands and models of 4K, Ultra-HD and HD cameras. These standards include 12-pin serial communication (common to major broadcast camera brands), Cooke’s /i Technology and Canon EOS-LENS data communication technology (employed by the EOS C500, EOS-1D C, EOS C300 and EOS C100 Cinema cameras).
In the case of the Canon Cinema EOS system, precise lens data – including aperture setting – is displayed in the EOS camera’s viewfinder, as well as recorded in the video file as metadata along with the model name of the lens and the given focal-length setting.
